Newsletter – November 2024 – Ben Lomond Village Alliance

Dear Erin,

Welcome to the November edition of the Ben Lomond Village Alliance newsletter! We are excited to share our latest updates, upcoming events, and ways you can get involved.

Upcoming Events 🗓

Date and time: TOMORROW – Saturday, Nov 9, 10 AM to 12 NOON
Location: Park Hall Community Center
Details: Local historian and Realtor Ronnie Trubek will present an engaging lecture on the colorful characters who shaped the history of Ben Lomond from 1821 to 1890. There will be an intermission and concessions. Proceeds benefit the BLVA and Park Hall.
Register: For more information, please visit www.benlomondvillage.org/events. Tickets: $20 for adults, $15 for seniors/youth, available HERE.

Date and time: Sunday, Dec 1, 4 PM to 7 PM
Location: Ben Lomond Firehouse
Details: Join us for the first Ben Lomond Tree Lighting in many years! This family-friendly event has FREE entry with snacks, beverages, and activities available by donation. Festivities include kids’ ornament-making stations, holiday performances, seasonal music from local musicians, all leading up to our exciting tree lighting at 6 pm. If you are willing to volunteer at this event, email Sarah at events@BenLomondVillage.org
Register: Please RSVP (No Charge) HERE.

BLVA SUPPER CLUB 2025 – COMING SOON!

Date and time: Once a month
Location: various hosts around Ben Lomond – how about YOUR house?
Details: Supper Club is will be a monthly dinner with rotating Hosts. Hosts choose the size and complexity of their Supper – anything from a casual pot-luck to a formal catered meal!
Register: More information and link to sign up will be coming soon!

View All Upcoming Events

Welcome New Committee Leaders

Sarah Jansen-Mount stepped in to lead the Events Committee last August. She and her team have worked tirelessly to finalize and execute the plans for an amazing Tree Lighting party. The Events Committee is already developing strategies and plans for events throughout 2025 and would welcome your thoughts and your interest in volunteering. You can contact Sarah at: events@benlomondvillage.org

Join us in welcoming Jamie Helmer as our new Infrastructure Committee leader! Jamie has already written and submit a letter to the Regional Transportation Committee (RTC) on behalf of the BLVA. He also attended a recent RTC meeting to highlight infrastructure improvements that would offer a positive impact on the citizens of Ben Lomond. They include lowering the speed limit in town to 25 mph, restriping part of Highway 9 for improved safety, and funding a sidewalk on a portion of Glen Arbor. If you would like to join this committee and receive updates about their activities, please email Ariel at secretary@BenLomondVillage.org

Get Involved

We are looking for passionate individuals to join our team and help us achieve our mission of enhancing the vitality and community spirit of Ben Lomond. This is a great way to meet/make new friends and make a difference in our community. If you have the skills to contribute to one of the following positions, please email Ariel at secretary@BenLomondVillage.org

Volunteer Opportunities
- Volunteers needed at the Tree Lighting Dec 1 – If you are willing to help at the Ben Lomond Tree Lighting Party with activities such as helping with crafts at the kids’ activity tables, donating baked goods for the bake sale, monitoring the snack table, or other volunteer opportunities, reach out to Sarah at events@BenLomondVillage.org
- Volunteer Graphic Designer – We have a few graphic design needs such as elements for our new website, as well as helping us develop our general look and feel. We’re looking for someone who can create visually appealing materials for our campaigns, events, and digital platforms. Ongoing this role helps maintain our brand identity to communicate with the community.
- Volunteer Bookkeeper – We are looking for a person with accounting / bookkeeping experience to help us get our books up and running, organize our financial records, assist with budgeting, and financial reporting, and track donations and expenses. Hopefully you would be familiar with charts of accounts, QuickBooks, GAAP practices, and basic accounting principals. This position ensures financial transparency and supports the overall financial health of BLVA.
Donation Drive
- Support our ongoing initiatives by making a donation. Click HERE
Spread the Word
- Help us reach more people by sharing our mission and work with your network. Follow us on social media, share our posts, and invite friends to join our mailing list.
- Social Media Links:
  Follow us on FACEBOOK
  Fave us on NEXTDOOR

Native Planting at Ben Lomond County Park on Mill Street

Recent Impact 💥

Thanks to your support, the BLVA has engaged in these recent activities:

Welcome to Ben Lomond Sign
- Careful observers may have noticed that the Welcome to Ben Lomond sign on the side of Highway 9 at Highlands Park was recently removed. BLVA volunteers are currently refurbishing the sign and you should see it back up soon!
Save Our Shores Annual Coastal Cleanup Day
- Saturday 9/21/2024 – Many thanks to BLVA member, Sherry Fleming, who was the Site Coordinator for participants in Ben Lomond to join the Save Our Shores 40th Anniversary of Annual Coastal Cleanup Day! In coordination with Valley Women’s Club and BLVA, 12 adults and 7 youth collected 79.5 pounds of trash and 4 pounds of recyclable material in Ben Lomond!
Native Planting at Ben Lomond County Park
- 11/2/2024 in coordination with Xerces Society and Santa Cruz County Parks, a large group of BLVA volunteers pulled weeds, dug holes, laid drip lines, and planted more than 100 native plants to create a Beneficial Habitat Garden at Ben Lomond County Park on Mill Street.

Volunteers receiving instructions at the Native Planting at Ben Lomond County Park

‘OUT AND ABOUT’ WITH BLVA

There has been a lot of activity in our little village, as of late. And many of you, the BLVA supporters, have been out in force! A group of BLVA members took up two tables at a recent Pancake Breakfast at the Highlands Park Senior & Community Center. Halloween night saw the soft opening of Henflings, now beautifully refreshed and operating under the new ownership of Mario Ibarra. It was great to see so many of you there!

November’s First Friday brought several of our art enthusiasts to the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center and Sew Rose to talk with local artists and learn about their work – plus enjoy a sip of wine and a delicious treat. And many Ben Lomond Village Alliance buttons were proudly worn while enjoying Mountain Feed’s absolutely fabulous Holiday Open House. Watch for upcoming events on the Ben Lomond Village website to ensure you don’t miss these special gatherings of friends and neighbors in our little village.

Thank You ❤️

We are incredibly grateful for your continued support and dedication to our mission. Together, we are making a significant difference in our community. If you have any questions or would like more information about our work, or if you have photos or Ben Lomond related announcements for us to share in future newsletters, please contact Ariel at secretary@BenLomondVillage.org.

Thank you for being a part of the Ben Lomond Village Alliance family.

Warm regards,

Ben Lomond Village Alliance